An Ode to Bruno Gianelli
Bruno is, of course, the campaign director for President Bartlet's second presidential election in seasons 3 and 4 of the West Wing. I didn't like him at all the first time I watched the series but he so brilliantly expresses everything that's wrong with American Politics and even the democratic party. It's perfect.
Listen, if you will, to this example of a Bruno clean campaign pep-talk to the other Bartlet staffers:
"Yeah. Uh, listen up. I've been thinking it might not be such a bad idea to lock you all in here and set the place on fire. We have 48 hours before we kick off this campaign. We will work hard. We will work well. We will work together. Or so help me, mother of God, I will stick a pitchfork so far up your asses, you will, quite simply, be dead."
Boy wouldn't it be nice to say that to some current political teams?
But more than anything it's this, on the failings of the Democratic party and liberals in general. Much as we don't like to admit it I think it rings truer than it should:
"Cause I am tired of working for candidates who make me think I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe, Sam. I'm tired of getting them elected. We all need some therapy, because somebody came along and said "liberal" means soft on crime, soft on drugs, soft on Communism, soft on defense, and we're gonna tax you back to the Stone Age because people shouldn't have to go to work if they don't want to. And instead of saying "Well, excuse me, you right-wing, reactionary, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-education, anti-choice, pro-gun,
'Leave it to Beaver' trip back to the fifties," we cowered in the corner and said "Please, don't hurt me." No more. I really don't care who's right, who's wrong. We're both right. We're both wrong. Let's have two parties, huh? What do you say?"
Let's have some real stuff at this next debate, huh? What do you say?
Eat 'em up, Barack!
Listen, if you will, to this example of a Bruno clean campaign pep-talk to the other Bartlet staffers:
"Yeah. Uh, listen up. I've been thinking it might not be such a bad idea to lock you all in here and set the place on fire. We have 48 hours before we kick off this campaign. We will work hard. We will work well. We will work together. Or so help me, mother of God, I will stick a pitchfork so far up your asses, you will, quite simply, be dead."
Boy wouldn't it be nice to say that to some current political teams?
But more than anything it's this, on the failings of the Democratic party and liberals in general. Much as we don't like to admit it I think it rings truer than it should:
"Cause I am tired of working for candidates who make me think I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe, Sam. I'm tired of getting them elected. We all need some therapy, because somebody came along and said "liberal" means soft on crime, soft on drugs, soft on Communism, soft on defense, and we're gonna tax you back to the Stone Age because people shouldn't have to go to work if they don't want to. And instead of saying "Well, excuse me, you right-wing, reactionary, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-education, anti-choice, pro-gun,
'Leave it to Beaver' trip back to the fifties," we cowered in the corner and said "Please, don't hurt me." No more. I really don't care who's right, who's wrong. We're both right. We're both wrong. Let's have two parties, huh? What do you say?"
Let's have some real stuff at this next debate, huh? What do you say?
Eat 'em up, Barack!